SENIOR OFFICERS

Generals of Division were to wear a turkish blue tail coat with collar, lapel, cuffs, piping and turnbacks red, with a double row of gold embroidery on the collar and cuffs “as previously prescribed”, with a row of embroidery around the lapel. Two eagles were embroidered on the turnbacks as clasps, the pockets and “escorson” (I have no idea what this is - possibly a cuff flap?) were embroidered, and the coat also had gold buttons embossed with an eagle, epaulette straps with eagles, the epaulettes were embroidered and had thick tubular wire fringes and eagles on the tops, and a blue sash mixed with gold, with two embroidered knots and gold tassels was also worn. Trousers were of blue with two embroidered lines along the seams, a cocked hat was prescribed with tricolour cockade, embroidered strap with an eagle on the button, a border of white feathers and embroidery in gold along the edges, a sword with a gold tassel, sword belt blue with gold embroidery worn beneath the coat, gloves of white leather, a stick with gold handle and tassels of black silk.

The mounted uniform was the same with breeches of white leather with top boots, gilt spurs with black patent leather straps, and a sabre with gold knot and black patent leather slings. Saddlery had gold decoration and the flap was embroidered; the shabraque was red with gold embroidery of three “pulgadas” width, eagles embroidered in the angles, without tassels, double holster covers with eagles and lace as on the shabraque and double reins.

The medio uniform was a blue tail coat with only the collar and cuff embroidered, plain blue sash with gold tassels and embroidered knots, trousers blue with lace of 1 1/2 “pulgadas” width, sword with gold knot, cocked hat, stick and rank badges as the full dress.

As a form of undress (“Cuando vistan de paisano”) they were to wear a short sash over a waistcoat or short sleeved shell jacket (“chaleco”) with two gold tassels and the stick with tassels.

Generals of Brigade on foot service wore the same with the difference of a single row of lace on the cuff and collar, with one tassel on the sash, which was green, and the single line of lace on the trousers. On the cocked hat the cockade was held in place by a strap of twisted braid and a gold button. The mounted uniform had the difference of blue breeches, the boots as the generals of division and the saddlery the same without the embroidered flap, the shabraque and double holster covers being of dark blue with lace and the embroidered eagle.

The medio dress was as the generals of division with one line of embroidery, the epaulettes being the same.

Brevet Generals of Brigade wore the same as the above with the difference that on the collar in place of the embroidery they wore the number or name of the corps or the insignia - a bomb in the case of the artillery, black velvet collar for engineers, an “E.M.” for the staff or for those not attached to a corps, the initials “E.P.” for Esercito Permanente. In medio dress they wore a full skirted tunic with embroidery on the cuffs, the eagle button, collar as above, blue trousers laced in gold, a cocked hat, sword, sash and carried a stick with tassels.

To understand the intricacies of the embroidery and other details of the uniforms of senior officers, it is necessary to refer to the earlier regulations, which those of 1853 draw on. The 1831 regulations specify a horizontal pocket with three buttons, the embroidery being that of the 18th October 1823 regulations, which laid down that the lines of gold embroidery were to be 1 “pulgada” wide, of intertwined palm, laurel and olive leaves; the same regulations specified that the eagles on the tops of the epaulettes were to be of the opposite colour of the epaulette - silver on gold or gold on silver.

The sashes for the Generals of Division were to be light blue according to the 1823 regulations, while those of the Generals of Brigade were to be dark green.

OFFICERS

By the June 20th 1853 regulations, all officers were to wear the epaulettes laid down for them or straps on the medio uniforms, the coats properly buttoned up and with the correct head dress. Various styles of civilian dress were prohibited.

Capes were to be of turkish blue with a buttonhole of metal lace for the General Staff, crimson for the artillery, engineers and half-pay officers, red for the infantry, green for light infantry and light blue for active militia corps The officers of cavalry were to wear capes of fine cloth, uniform with the troops.

Sashes were to be light lead-grey for commanders of battalions and first adjutants, a cane-yellow colour for lieutenant colonels, crimson entwined with gold or silver thread for colonels (according to arm of service), plain crimson for the medio uniform.

Adjutants of corps, instead of carrying a stick, were to wear a plain (or single) aiguillette on the left shoulder, using the sword to signal to the men.

Officers of all the infantry on route marches were to use a simpler horse furniture with black iron fittings small blue shabraque with piping the same as that on the medio uniform and the number of the battalion in the angle, and simple (or plain) holster covers with the same piping. They were to have a black leather box with their name written on it and the number of their corps, along with a camp bed.

Rank was indicated by epaulettes, sashes and sticks and followed regulations laid down as early as 1823. By those regulations first adjutants wore epaulettes with gold or silver wire with plain tops, lieutenant colonels, “gefes de instruccion”, wore epaulettes with tubular wire fringes, thinner than those of the generals, with embossed tops, and colonels the same with a star embroidered on the top of the epaulette in the opposite metal colour - infantry officers wore gold epaulettes, cavalry silver. All the above officers then wore a red sash with silk knots and fringe.

By the regulations of 18th January 1830, first adjutants of the regular army and active militia were to wear two epaulettes with plain tops and thick wire fringes, secured by straps of 5 threads of metal braid. Captains and subaltern officers were to wear epaulettes of gold or silver with straps of the colour of the coat, two for the captain, one on the right shoulder for the lieutenants and second adjutants and one on the left shoulder for the sub-lieutenants, alféreces and sub-adjutants.

Officers of the civic militia wore the same but with silver distinguishing the infantry, and gold for the cavalry.

On April 11th 1853, only 7 days before Santa Anna was sworn in as President, the post of Captain General was re-established as the senior officer of the militia. The uniform was that of a general of division, all the seams of the coat embroidered in gold, with three “entorchadas”, or pieces of twisted gold cord embroidery, on each cuff, and three “amarres” on the sash which was white with gold tassels. A sun was embossed on each of the tops of the epaulettes and a sash of the three national colours, the width of four fingers, was worn across the body from right to left.

SERGEANTS AND CORPORALS

By the regulations of 18th January 1830, which were still apparently in force, the first sergeants and trumpet-majors were to wear two epaulettes of crimson silk in the infantry and green silk in the cavalry, and the second sergeants one epaulette on the right shoulder, straps to be of the same colour as the epaulette and without metallic threads. In the civic militia the half-moons were to be of the opposite colour of the rest of the epaulette, green for the infantry, red for the cavalry.

Corporals retained the insignia first laid down in 1823, a line of yellow or white lace of half a “pulgada” wide running diagonally from the elbow to the inside of the cuff on both arms.

However, rank insignia for the police of the federal district in 1848 were like those of the army in 1823, with lines of silk or metal lace running around the cuff except for the corporals who wore the insignia above.

CORPS OF THE GENERAL STAFF

The uniform for foot service was to be a red tail coat with horizontal bars of lace on the chest of gold, of 1 “pulgada” wide. White buttons with the eagle embossed on them, and white collar, cuffs, turnbacks and piping. lace of 1 1/2 “pulgadas” width on the collar and cuffs, eagles on the turnbacks, aiguillettes of gold on the left arm, white trousers with lace of 1 1/2 “pulgadas” width, peg spurs, sabre with steel scabbard and gold tassel, sword slings of black patent leather, sabretache of the same, with the initials “E.M.E.”, the cocked hat black with lace one “pulgada” wide and with tricolour plumes for “jefes” (a rank superior to captain and below that of brigadier) and half a “pulgada” wide with red plume for captains and lieutenants.

Rank insignia for this corps consisted of thick wire fringes on the epaulettes, the subalterns using contre-epaulettes only, with a strap of the colour of the coat.

Mounted uniform was the same with the addition of breeches of turkish blue with white tops and black riding boots, gilt spurs with leather straps, cloak, double holster covers and shabraque turkish blue with lace of 1 1/2 “pulgadas” width, without embroidery or tassels, saddles with gold decoration and double reins.

The medio uniform was a dark green tunic with collar, cuff, and lapel white, lace on the collar and cuff, the trousers of green with gold lace, green cap (cachucha) with the initials “E.M.E.”

The same uniform was worn by the secretariat of the staff, those stationed in the garrisons, employees of the “comandancias generales” and similar military officers.

THE GUIDES OF THE GENERAL STAFF

Formed by decree of 3rd August 1854 and one company strong; they were to be armed with a pistol, sabre and lance with a white pennant, on which were to be the initials E.M.G. All equipment was to be white and the horses were to be dark. Their pay was to be as the Guard..

The gala uniform was to be a short red tail coat with chest tape of yellow lace of 1 1/2 “pulgadas” wide, collar, cuffs, turnbacks and piping white with the same yellow lace on the collar and cuffs as on the chest. The shako was black with band and chin chain of brass, red triangles on the side, yellow “forrajera” or shako cord worn round the neck and looped round the body, red pom-pom and a shield with the letters “Guias de Estado Mayor”. Shabraque, holster covers, valise and cloak were all dark blue with yellow trimming. A sabretache was also worn.

Medio uniform was to be dark green tailcoat and trousers with white piping, “E.M.” on the collar, white marrueca (cuff slash or flap) on the sleeve and a shako with an oilcloth cover.

The company consisted of a sergeant, 4 second sergeants, 10 corporals, 4 trumpeters and 65 men. The company came under the direct orders of the Chief of Staff of the Army, day to day command being exercised by a captain and two lieutenants of the Staff Corps.

Mexico 1853 - 1855: Part 1 Uniforms of the Army in Santa Anna's Last Presidency

Introduction
Officers and Staff
The Presidential Guard
Guard: Sappers, Engineers, and Artillery
Guard: Grenadiers and Light Infantry Bttns
Guard: Horse Grenadiers and Lancers
Squadron of Guides of the President
Medical Corps of the Guard